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franchise.co.nz – PUTTING PEOPLE IN BUSINESS
t has been 15 years since Todd Murray first donned a Harcourts tie
and began marketing properties across West Auckland. For the
born and raised ‘Westie’, bricklayer and rugby enthusiast, the real
estate environment was vastly different back in 2009. For a start, it
was possible to secure a real estate licence in just one week, which is
exactly what Todd achieved.
Despite not realising it was a fully 100% commission position until
the end of his first month, Todd nevertheless managed to enjoy
quick success in the business. He went on to achieve excellent
sales for several years before the opportunity to buy the newly
defined Harcourts Northwest Realty franchise arose in 2017, when
he was aged 36.
“I was looking beyond sales for something that would provide more
tangible value,” he recalls.
Admitting to perhaps being ‘a little naive’ in the early days, without
much business acumen, Todd now looks back proudly.
“It was a tough market, but probably the best time to start,” he
reflects, “as opposed to launching in buoyant times when you don’t
really know how hard things may get.”
He says it took him three years to transition fully out of sales and into
full-time management of his franchise team, which now includes a
property management division too. Todd had been the top performing
salesperson as well as the business owner, but his business partner
Diego Traglia was happy to take up the baton on sales, making
Todd’s shift to day-to-day management of the overall business much
quicker and easier. He says that having his wife Taryn as a full-time
salesperson has helped keep him grounded on that aspect of the
business as well.
Support when needed
“Leadership from Harcourts has been totally supportive,” says Todd.
“The experience that the Harcourts corporate team provides has been
a major part of our success. I know I like to row my own boat a lot of
the time, but it’s so important to understand that the support is always
there when needed.
“Harcourts offer us so much, which is a standout for every Harcourts
franchisee. We are able to pick and choose what resources and
training we require,” he explains.
“The flexibility and depth of resources they provide is amazing. It’s
simply a case of me and our operations manager working out what our
needs are and when we need those resources.”
Having such a strong presence for the familiar Harcourts brand in the
local market is highly advantageous, he says. It also helps that his
region has one of the fastest growing property markets in the country.
Have you got what it takes?
Asked to describe his approach to the franchise, Todd is quick to state he’s
not an overly analytical person and never resorts to micro-management.
“You’ve got to be honest with yourself about what skills you do possess,
and which ones you don’t,” he explains. “It can be a tough market, and the
ability to adapt to any new challenges in the market is also very important.”
Success as a franchisor is all about investing in good people and being
totally adaptable to any market fluctuations, Todd says. “A passion for
supporting your local community is vital too.” Harcourts Northwest Realty
assists several charities and is a long-term sponsor of Massey Rugby – a
club Todd has been associated with for many years. Through ‘Gumboot
Fridays’ and various events they’ve helped raise thousands of dollars.
Rewarding and satisfying
Reflecting on the past seven years as a Harcourts franchise owner, Todd
says making the switch from sales consultant to business owner was a
major step, but one that has exceeded his expectations. Considering the
economic storms since, they avoided making any staff redundant, which
he says demonstrates the resilience of the Harcourts business model.
Todd’s advice to any potential franchisees is to first consider their ‘why’.
“Because enthusiasm will only take you a certain distance,” he says.
“Consider the structure of the business and the size of the operation you
want to create. Have you got the right staff in the right places, and the
right amount of infrastructure to process the volume of work generated?
“The admin, management and financial teams must also be heavily
mentally invested.”
Perfect timing
Are you a seasoned real estate sales professional keen to invest in
your own business? Perhaps you are a successful entrepreneur with
a reasonable amount of equity? If you’re 100% focused on securing a
solid future in this industry, a Harcourts franchise could be what you’re
looking for. There are numerous business opportunities available,
including existing franchises and new greenfields locations.
Investment starts from $200,000.
“We have a full support structure to wrap
around newcomers,” says Harcourts
Network Development Manager Aaron
Davis. “Harcourts has all the know-how
to help you succeed. The career path is
there waiting, and the point of entry is
easier than you might think.”
UP FOR THE
Opportunity: Real Estate
Todd Murray is a real estate sales
professional who successfully
transitioned to Harcourts franchise
ownership and never looked back.
CHALLENGE
Harcourts
www.harcourts.net/nz
Contact
Aaron Davis
09 520 5569
027 275 6165
aaron.davis@harcourts.net
Advertiser Info
Todd Murray